Food warmer



Feb. 11, 1941. M, p DUKE 2,231,615

FOOD WARMER Filed F633] s, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented F eb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,231,615 roon wanMEn Marsh 2. Duke, University City, Mo., assignor to Duke Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., K

a corporation of Missouri Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254, 93

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-211) This invention relates to food warmers, and with regard to certain more specific features, to food warmer or steam table tops.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a food warmer which has a basic form, in connection with which a so-called wet or dry form of heating arrangement may be used; the provision of a steam table of the class described in which the top is removable and useful'for either the' dry or wet form and which removably holds covers or top plates neatly and in a flush position; the provision of apparatus of the class described in which the covers are of simple and rigid form; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which lends itself easily to adaptation to its various intended forms. Other objects will befin part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several" of various possible embodiments of the invention,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the warmer, on a re- .duced scale.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig, 1 and on the same scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with insulation removed; i

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale, illustrating an alternative form of the invention; and,

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section takenon line 6-8 of Fig. 5. i

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding'parts' throughout the several views of the drawings.

Since many of the details of the drawings refer to closely adjacent sheets of metal, such portions have been exaggerated in theirrelative spacings, in orderto clarify the description. Furthermore, certain beaded, rolled, and other Joints are exaggerated, and it is to be understood that actually they are in many instances more compact than shown.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 14, there is shown at I a top frame. The peripheral portions] of this frame are formed as inverted U-shapes providing a guide to effect placement of the frame upon the upper edge of the table which is box-like and hollow in form, as will appear. It is to be understood that equivalent lng upon said flange I,

ferred to hereinafter.-

downwardly concave shapes may be substituted are spaced from the peripheral U-shaped edge 3, as shown at H (see particularly Fig.3).

The crossbars 9 and the peripheral frame I are so related as to provide a plurality of quadrilateral openings for covers, two of' wh ich are shown for example and indicated at l3 and I! in Fig. 1. The third opening at the right in Fig. 1 is shown without a cover; These covers in general consist of a horizontal sheet I! in which a suitable opening is cut to receive and support a suitably formed dish. For example, the plate I3 is shown with-two round openings 19 for round dishes and the plate I5 is shown with a rectangular opening 2i for a rectangular dish.

It will be understood that the plates, or some of them, maybe flat and without any adapter opening, to function merely as a support for dishes and the like. The various top plates are the same size and interchangeable.

Each plate, such as H and I5, is provided about its periphery with a downwardly directed flange 23. Theseflanges at their longitudinal portions rest either in the U-shapedfmembers 9 where they abut by pairs, or upon the flange lot the frame I, as the case may be (see Fig. 2, for example). The end portions of the flanges 23 are positioned between the ends ll of the U-shaped cross members 9 and the side of frame I (see Fig.3).

The described top construction, permits easy removal of the top plates for cleaning. When replaced, they assume flush positions with respect to the tops of the U-shaped portions 3 and with respect to each other. It will be understood that the length of the table may be made to accommodate fewer or more of the rectangular tops such as l3, l5.

The sides of the table are shown at 25 (Figs. 3 and 4). These are turned injattheir lower edges as shown at'21 to support a bottom 29 which is removable for reconstruction purposes. At the corners the bottom 29 supports insert plates 30 for supporting insulation 45, where- An angle brace is shown at 32. Turned-in ends 26 of the sides 25 are attached to the inturned parts 51 ofend panels 33.

in flanges 4| of a. flue piece 43. The flue is open at its top as indicated, being closed in by the bottom 39 of the box 35 to form a passage.

Between the flue piece" and the lowermost bottom 29 is inserted heat insulating material 45 such as asbestos, rock wool or the like. Similar material is inserted "between the sides of the water box or pan 35 and the sides 25 and end panels 3.3 respectively. However, at the end of the flue piece '43 (see the left end of Fig. 2) no insulating matrial is inserted, and a passage 41 is thus left to communicate with theflue piece 43. Openings '49'perinit products of combustion to escape at this point. The other end ofthe flue piece 43 communicates with an inlet. opening 5| in which are, located ga's burners 53. These burners 53 are located on an inlet manifold 55 which is supported between the turned-in leg portionsof the U-shaped panels 33. I

From the above it will be seen that when the burners 53 are lighted air is drawnin around them through the passage 5|. The products 01' combustion flow through the flue piece 43 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2., This keeps hot water which is carried in the pan 35 in order to heat the vessels of food or thelike which are inserted into the openings such as I9 and 2|.

Within the legs 51 arebrackets 59 for feet 6i. These also support a shelf -63 between the legs 51, the shelf being also connected to the end panels 33.

The box .35 is removable, as is also the flue member '43, This alsopermits removal of the insulation.45 and gas manifold 55 with burners 53. Then, after removal of the bottom 29, the parts to be described in connection with Figs. 5 and 6 may be inserted. r

Referring now more particularly to said Figs. 5 and 6, like numerals designate like parts. The

purpose of this alternative construction is topro-' vide a heating table within which there is no pan carrying any liquid, but in which the heat is applied directly. to the food containers in the openings such as I9 and 2i. Claims drawn to'this part of the construction will be found in my United States patent application, Serial No. 308,- 937, filed December 13, 1939, for food warmer. In this case, a box-like inner structure 65 is employed, also having a flange 5 about its top for resting upon the upper edge of the outer box or table, as in the case of Figs. 1-4. This inner box has a bottom 61. Below the bottom 61 is a table bottom 69 supported by cross members II, The supports'll rest upon the inturned portions 21 mentioned in connection with Figs. 1-4. Insulating material 13 is employed between the two bottoms 61 and 69 and between the sides 55 and 25 and end-wise between the sides 65 and the ends 33.

Passing through the spaced bottoms 61, 69, and through the insulation therebetween, are openfthimbles .14 held up by beads I 2. At the lower ends of 'the thimbles 14 are located gasburners 15, the latter being fed from a gas mani fold TI. .The manifold 11 is supportedupon the members 1| and by a cleat 19.

Above the bottom 61, horizontal radiator plates 3| are arranged upon supports 83in order to absorb the heat and radiate it throughout the compartment made by the box 65.

In order to-convert the device from the socalled wet form, of Figs. 1-4, to the so-called dry form, of Figs. 5 and 6, it is only necessary to remove the top or cover I, the water pan 35, flue member 43, insulation 45 and bottom 29. The manifold 55 and burners 53 are also removed.

The cross members ll of Figs, 5 and 6 are then applied, together with the manifold 11 and burners I5. A new bottom 69 is inserted and also the new form of insulation 13. The box 65, B1 is then dropped into position. Finally, the thimbles I4 are inserted, as well as-the deflectors 8|. The same top I is used, including the same covers l3, l5, etc.

It will be seen from the above that the same outer box and legs and top are used in both forms of the invention. Thus, only one class of equipment needs to be stocked for the top, in order to sell both types of tables. Of course, different top sizes need to be carried for different sizes of tables. The holes 49 of Fig. 1 are readily made when required in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4.

A simplifying feature of the form of the invention shown in Figs, 1-4 is the depressed sump portion 4 adjacent the outlet plug 31 of the Water pan 35. This sump not only serves to direct drainage to the outlet plug 31, but also serves to form the inlet 5| of the flue and to increase the heat transas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. A food warmer top comprising a frame having a cross section providing adownwardly concave portion, said portion having a substantially frame and being concave upwardly, and a remova'ble top section having a downwardly directed peripheral flange resting in the concavity of said cross piece and upon said inwardly directed flange of the frame, the length of the cross piece be- Iing such as to provide space between its ends and the frame to accommodate a portion of the downwardly directed flange of the top section.

2. A top for food warmers and the like comprising a frame having a peripheral portion with a cross section providing a flange directed inwardly with respect to the frame, at least one member forming a cross-piece resting upon the flange and having an upwardly open concavity, at least two removable interchangeable top sections, each having a downwardly directed peripheral flange resting in part upon said inwardly directed flange of the frame, and par-ts of said flanges of the top sections abutting in said concavity of said cross-piece, the cross-piece being of a length to provide space between its ends and the frame to accommodate portions of the flanges of the top sections.

MARSH P. DUKE. 

